Compare towns
Bethel vs Calais vs Tunbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethel has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bethel | Calais | Tunbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,736Highest |
1,713 |
1,253Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
42.7±8.3 about the VT average |
| Bethel and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bethel and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,822±$7kLowest 7% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$89,464±$26k 10% above VT |
| Calais and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,335±$220Lowest 8% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,346±$128 9% above VT |
| Calais and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,168 about the VT average |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,645Lowest 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±22 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 19% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.